Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has ordered the formation of an investigative council and dismissed the commander of military operations in Maysan province following Saudi Arabia’s allegation that drones used in an attack on its East-West oil pipeline were launched from Iraqi territory.

According to the Iraqi News Agency, al-Zaidi on Friday also ordered an urgent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack and the parties responsible.

Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of Iraq’s Armed Forces, said Baghdad condemned the attack and rejected any aggression threatening Saudi Arabia’s security or damaging relations between the two neighboring countries.

“Iraq’s territory and airspace will not be used as a launching pad for aggression,” al-Numan said.

The Iraqi government separately reaffirmed that its foreign policy is based on respect for the sovereignty of other states and opposition to aggression against them.

Local sources reported that three senior Iraqi security officials traveled to several Gulf states, including Kuwait, amid diplomatic tensions following the attack.

The reported visits come as Baghdad seeks to contain the fallout and reassure neighboring countries that Iraqi territory will not be used to launch attacks against them.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said several drones launched from Iraqi territory struck sections of the East-West pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions on Thursday.

The attack reportedly wounded several people and prompted Saudi authorities to temporarily shut down the pipeline as a precaution.

Riyadh condemned the attack and warned that it reserves the right to take “all necessary measures” to protect its sovereignty.

However, Saudi Arabia said it would refrain from retaliating for the time being following a request from al-Zaidi, giving Baghdad an opportunity to prevent further attacks originating from its territory.

Iraq welcomed the Saudi decision to delay any response, saying it appreciated Riyadh’s restraint.

The East-West pipeline, also known as Petroline, is a strategically important component of Saudi Arabia’s oil-export infrastructure.

The roughly 1,200-kilometer pipeline can transport up to 7 million barrels of crude oil per day from Abqaiq in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province to the Red Sea export terminal at Yanbu.

Its route allows Saudi Arabia to export crude without relying entirely on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy chokepoint.

Riyadh has increasingly relied on the pipeline since the start of the US war on Iran, using the route to reduce its dependence on shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia has publicly attributed the drone attack to launches from Iraqi territory, but the origin of the drones has not been independently established.

The allegation has nevertheless placed additional pressure on Baghdad, which is seeking to prevent its territory from becoming a battleground amid escalating regional tensions.

Iraq’s decision to launch an investigation and remove the senior military commander responsible for operations in Maysan signals Baghdad’s effort to address the Saudi accusations while reaffirming its commitment to preventing attacks against neighboring states from Iraqi territory. (ILKHA)